Kiwi mountain bikers enjoyed a remarkable qualifying performance in the opening day of racing of the latest UCI MTB World Series stop in Andorra today.
Twelve New Zealand gravity riders qualified for tomorrow’s finals across all four grades, led by Rotorua’s Lachlan Stevens-McNab and Palmerston North’s Jonty Williamson who topped qualifying in elite men and junior men respectively.
This betters last year’s previous qualifying record when 10 riders made it to finals at the same venue. The kiwi contingent has again shown a liking for the high-speed course.
Stevens-McNab (Trek Unbroken), only recently returned from injury, blitzed the field in elite men’s qualifying. He recorded 2:46.100 down the 1.9km course, to be half a second clear of the closest competition.
He will be joined in the elite men’s field for tomorrow’s final by Hawkes Bay rider Tyler Waite (Yeti Fox Factory) and Christchurch’s Luke Wayman (Continental Atherton) where were second and sixth respectively in the second session where the top 10 elite men progressed.
Manawatu star Williamson topped qualifying in junior men, as the Yeti-Fox Factory rider chases his fifth victory in six finals so far this year.
Williamson will be joined in the junior men’s final by Queentown’s Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton) who was fifth fastest to qualify, with Taranaki’s Camden Rutherfurd (Nukeproof Axess) missing by two spots for the final.
Auckland professional Sacha Earnest continued her super-hot form in elite women with the Trek Unbroken rider second fastest in qualifying, after earning her first elite podium last week in Italy.
She led a white-hot performance from the elite kiwi women, with Queenstown’s Jess Blewitt (Scott Downhill), teenage rookie Kate Hastings (Rotorua) and Tauranga’s Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate) all through in the top-10 for first round qualifications. They were joined by former junior world champion Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory), older sister of Kate, who was second fastest in the second qualifying session.
The New Zealand performances were completed with Queenstown rider Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) qualifying third fastest in junior women.
Finals for downhill are set for tomorrow with Sam Gaze and Anton Cooper competing in cross-country on Monday (NZT).
Lachlan Stevens-McNab in action. (Credit: Trek Cycles)